Tranlate this title Star-studded lineup at the Spanish Open 26 in spanish

While the participation of Spaniard Jon Rahm remains uncertain—depending on the birth of his fourth child—this year’s field has raised the bar for quality, featuring top-ranked players and major champions.

The star-studded lineup includes Swedes Ludvig Aberg and Alex Noren (ranked 18th and 21st, respectively), Englishmen Justin Rose (17th) and Tyrrell Hatton (24th), Irishman Shane Lowry (39th), and Dane Nicolai Højgaard (42nd).

American Patrick Reed (29th)—the leader of the DP World Tour rankings, known as the «Race to Dubai»—returns to the field, alongside other major winners such as Italy’s Francesco Molinari and fellow American Bubba Watson.

Spanish Open, schedule

The Spanish contingent will also be in the mix, featuring figures like veteran Sergio García (the 2002 winner), Madrid native Eugenio Chacarra (55th), Catalan player David Puig, and Málaga natives Ángel Ayora and Ángel Hidalgo.

«We have an impressive list of players, including Americans, which significantly elevates the competition and the tournament’s standard. It brings a higher level of quality compared to last year,» says a pleased Gerard Tsobanian, CEO of Madrid Trophy Promotion—the company that has promoted the tournament since 2019 and also organizes the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament.

The growing interest in playing in Madrid is largely due to the city’s appeal. Beyond its tourist attractions, the course is located very close to the capital’s center, encouraging many players to bring their families along.

In his view, pampering the players is essential. «Accommodation, food, the quality of the course—these things matter… Madrid is making an impression on players as an interesting destination; many return because they enjoyed the experience,» he notes.

«They owe us nothing, and they come here because they want to. It is an environment of quality and trust,» adds the French businessman of Armenian descent.

This marks the seventh time Madrid Trophy Promotion has organized the Madrid tournament—there was no event in 2020 due to the pandemic—which has been part of the European circuit since 1972.

The Spanish Open is considered the third-oldest national open in Europe—dating back to 1912—following the British Open and the French Open.

As with the previous edition, the tournament lacks a title sponsor, even though, according to Tsobanian, the conditions are right for a Spanish company to step up and add its name to a national open that is broadcast to 150 countries. The executive acknowledges the need for patience—citing the example of tennis, which also went several years without a title sponsor—and refuses to lower the bar, as doing so would devalue an event that brings together more than 130 golfers over four days.

“We need the faith and the financial staying power to wait for a company that values ​​the event for what it is and is willing to invest in the tournament. If we accept just any company, we’ll devalue the product, and that goes against my philosophy. A princess will come along, fall in love at first sight, and marry us,” he predicted.

For the second consecutive year, the Spanish Open offers an added incentive: it awards spots in both the 2027 Masters Tournament and the 2027 Open Championship.